| "Brave New World" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byToyah | ||||
| from the albumThe Changeling | ||||
| B-side | "Warrior Rock" | |||
| Released | May 1982 | |||
| Recorded | 1982 | |||
| Genre | New wave | |||
| Length | 5:31 (full album version) 3:41 (single and video edit) | |||
| Label | Safari | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Steve Lillywhite | |||
| Toyah singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Brave New World" onYouTube | ||||
"Brave New World" is a song by theEnglishnew wave bandToyah, fronted byToyah Willcox, released as a single in1982 bySafari Records. It promoted Toyah's 1982 studio albumThe Changeling and was aTop 40 chart success in the UK.
The song was written byToyah Willcox andJoel Bogen, and produced bySteve Lillywhite. Toyah has described it as "a sad love song, because I wrote most of it (...) after a tremendous row with my boyfriend. But I could never do a love song true to myself, because that's being selfish. I prefer what I call open lyrics, so that the kids can fit their own feelings to them... And so [it] is a love song, because I think everyone goes through the phase when they think no one in the world knows how hurt they are – experiencing a loneliness that no one knows, but everyone knows it".[1] The singer also opined that Bogen's guitar line in the song would subsequently be copied on records by other bands, includingU2.[2]
"Brave New World" was released in May 1982 as the first and only single fromThe Changeling. It was available as a 7" vinyl single as well as a picture disc. The cover photograph was taken by Roger Charity and features Toyah in make-up painted by the artist Caroline Cohen.[2] The single included the exclusive non-album song "Warrior Rock" on side B, which was included in the 1999 CD re-release ofThe Changeling. The single edit of "Brave New World" featured on the 2005 compilationThe Safari Singles Collection Part 2: 1981–1983.
The single made it to theTop 40 in theUK Singles Chart, peaking at number 21 in June 1982. It also reached number 4 in theUK Independent Singles Chart. In March 2023, after its re-release on a limited 10" red vinyl, it entered a number of UK sales charts.
The "Brave New World"music video was directed byDavid Mallet and used a shorter version of the track. The opening scene where Toyah comes out of the sea was filmed inHastings.[3] Other parts of the clip were filmed later that day in front of theBattersea Power Station inLondon, picturing Toyah riding a white horse.[4] The video was inspired byDavid Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes" also directed by Mallet.[5] Despite the apparent influence of Bowie's video, Toyah herself has denied any attempt to copy him: "I'd never dream of trying to be like Bowie, because he's the greatest".[1]
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[7] | 21 |
| UK Independent Singles[8] | 4 |
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Vinyl Singles (Official Charts Company)[9] | 2 |
| UK Physical Singles (Official Charts Company)[10] | 3 |
| UK Singles Sales (Official Charts Company)[11] | 26 |
